20th Annual
Potomac River Watershed Cleanup
9 am to 12 pm
We all live in the watershed of an important body of water, whether it's the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, the Chesapeake Bay or another of our nation's great aquatic resources. By volunteering at one of the many cleanup sites in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, you can help clean up your own local watershed and other waterways downstream.
- It Starts in Your Backyard - All of the trash in our rivers has washed from our streets, backyards, playgrounds, schoolyards and every other piece of land in the watershed. Since we all created this trash, it is up to all of US to clean it up and improve the health of our water resources.
- It's Fun, Easy & Rewarding - Get together with your family, neighbors, classmates or scout troop as a team to collect trash around your community. Participating in the cleanup works towards the Water Drop patch for Girl Scouts and the Conservation patch for Boy Scouts. You may also be able to receive credit towards service hours. Check with the director of your community service project to make sure.
- Take Action – Here's your chance to do something to improve your community! In just a few hours each of us can really make a difference. Join us!
Talk to your family, teacher, scout leader, or coach about finding a Cleanup Site where you can help out, or even adopting a site in your neighborhood or schoolyard. Contact the Cleanup coordinator ( ) for more information about how to adopt a cleanup site.
- Be Prepared - Most cleanup sites provide work gloves and trash bags, but make sure you come prepared to get a little wet and dirty! Cleaning up can be hard work, and not all of the sites are safe for younger volunteers. Make sure you and your adult volunteer contact the site leader or check the notes listed for the site. For more information on how to get ready for the cleanup, go to What Volunteers Should Expect.
